David Bernauer
David Bernauer DAY-vid BER-now-er (he/his/him)
Sports Reporter, Phoenix

David Bernauer expects to graduate in May 2024 with a master’s degree in mass communication. Bernauer has previously worked in the Phoenix Sports Bureau and TV Production & Graphics Lab, as well as interning with the Florida Collegiate Summer League. He is a contributing writer with The Sixth Man Show.

Latest from David Bernauer

Reunited: From Ashburn to Arizona to Milwaukee, pitchers JB Bukauskas and Taylor Clarke together again

PHOENIX – Ashburn, Virginia, isn’t known as a baseball hotbed, but two pitchers for Milwaukee, JB Bukauskas and Taylor Clarke, have made it to the majors and are teammates for the second time as professionals.

Pitchers JB Bukauskas and Taylor Clarke (not pictured), both hailing from Ashburn, Virginia, have found a familiar connection as teammates in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns superfan Mr. ORNG arrested on child sex crime charges

PHOENIX – Mr. ORNG, the face of the Phoenix Suns’ fan base for years, has been arrested for child sex crimes. Patrick Battillo allegedly solicited videos of boys in “various sex acts and in various states of nudity.”

Patrick Battillo, a popular Suns superfan known as “Mr. ORNG’ as well as a Peoria High School basketball coach, was arrested Tuesday night on charge related to child sex crimes. (File photo by Dominic Rivera/Cronkite News)

Final Four Updates: Purdue fans, students have large presence at men’s national championship game

GLENDALE – Arizona’s early elimination from the Men’s NCAA Tournament have help make championship tickets a little more affordable. Some were going for as low as $100 Monday afternoon.

Purdue coach Matt Painter can change the fortune of the Big Ten Conference. In seven title game appearances since 2001, the conference is 0-7. (Photo by Bennett Silvyn/Cronkite News)

The greatest, least talked about team: How the 1997 Arizona Wildcats became March’s underdogs

PHOENIX – The 1997 Arizona Wildcats were deemed too young and inexperienced to win a title. But they paid no mind to the outside noise and became the only team in tournament history to beat three #1 seeds en route to a championship.

Caption: Under Lute Olson's guidance, the Arizona Wildcats defied the odds during a remarkable NCAA Tournament run and clinched the 1997 national title. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Amid abundance of highly touted young players, Milwaukee Brewers will also take a look at ‘older’ prospects

PHOENIX – Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy loves the young prospects in the club’s farm system, but he said some players take longer to blossom. He’s excited about some “older” prospects who could make their big league mark this season.

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy has reason to smile ahead of this upcoming regular season with a roster featuring youth and experience from players like Oliver Dunn and Janson Junk. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Actor-turned-NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz inspires Arizona youth with racing career

AVONDALE – Phoenix resident and NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Frankie Muniz read to kids at the Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library in Avondale, hoping to inspire them to chase their dreams.

Frankie Muniz, former child star of 'Malcolm in the Middle', inspires young minds during a reading event held at Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library in Avondale. (Photo by David Bernauer/Cronkite News)

‘I drove a rocketship today’: Christopher Bell surges to victory at Phoenix Raceway

AVONDALE – Christopher Bell surged into the lead and then victory when Martin Truex Jr. was forced to pit in an emotional NASCAR Cup Series win Sunday at Phoenix Raceway for Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell celebrates in the victory lane at Phoenix Raceway after clinching his seventh Cup Series win Sunday. (Photo by Alyssa Buruato/Cronkite News)

Three storylines to watch at NASCAR’s Shriners Childrens 500 at Phoenix Raceway

AVONDALE – A champion’s return, a new racing package and a young driver looking to redeem himself headline NASCAR weekend at Phoenix Raceway.


Cuddles, car rides and… knives? Milwaukee Brewers share stories about their pets

PHOENIX – It’s safe to say Milwaukee Brewers players love their four-legged friends, and they’re more than willing to share the oddities that come with being a pet owner.

Geno, a German Shepherd/Sheltie mix, caused outfielder Sal Frelick’s mom to miss his MLB debut because they couldn’t find anyone to dog-sit. Darth Kittypuss blocks sidearm lefty Hoby Milner’s view of his television, a trait popular with my cats. (Photo courtesy of Frelick family and Milner family)

From early struggles to midseason success, retooled Phoenix Suns target championship run in second half

PHOENIX – Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have led the Suns to the fifth seed in the West so far, and the additions at the trade deadline have helped shape out the roster to support the superstars.

In the second half of the NBA season, Devin Booker, left, and Kevin Durant face a pivotal period where the Phoenix Suns aim to solidify their playoff positioning and make a championship push. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Prescott’s tennis phenom: The rise of Andrew Bogdanov and his paralympic dreams

PRESCOTT – Andrew Bogdanov had never picked up a tennis racket until three years ago. Now the Prescott native is the No. 2-ranked American and No. 22 world-ranked quad tennis player in the world as he eyes the Paralympics.

Andrew Bogdanov's, right, quick rise in the world of wheelchair tennis is aided by the support of his longtime partner, Sharon Hemerka. (Photo courtesy of Chris Howard)

X-factor: Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen emerges as ‘absolute stud’ in season of comebacks and thrills

Grayson Allen has become one of the Suns’ most important players as the team tries to overcome inconsistency and first-half sluggishness.

Grayson Allen's consistent performance has made him an indispensable asset to the Phoenix Suns during the 2023-24 NBA season. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

As sports world starts to talk about mental health, stigmas remain, especially among high school athletes

PHOENIX – High schoolers are at great risk for dealing with mental health struggles, and while sports can help in this regard, the stigmas against mental health in the sporting world can exacerbate problems.

Reports of sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, decreased self-confidence and an inability to concentrate continue to climb for young athletes. The demands of high school sports and the social media age are two factors contributing to the rise of mental illness. (Photo by Oleg Breslavtsev/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns prepared for early test vs. Los Angeles Clippers in NBA playoffs

PHOENIX – The trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul will have to play to their capabilities to stop Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers, but they are more than up to the task.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul dealt with injury during the 2022-23 regular season but goes into a first-round series against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, fully healthy. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

‘Pick your poison’: Kevin Durant’s impact abundantly clear as NBA playoffs approach

PHOENIX – Since trading for Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns are a perfect 8-0 when Durant is in the lineup, and it’s no secret the 13-time All-Star will pose a headache for the Los Angeles Clippers in their first-round series.

Since his trade in February, Kevin Durant has averaged 26 points in eight games while shooting 57% from the field and 53% from 3-point range. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

ASU football pro day inspires unity one last time in final showcase for NFL scouts

TEMPE – Despite a tough season, the 2022 Sun Devil team became a family through the adversity it faced. ASU’s pro day Monday offered one last day together as a team, this time in front of NFL scouts.

Arizona State defensive lineman Travez Moore credits Joe Connolly for training him and his teammates to impress NFL scouts during pro day. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)

How should fans ask for autographs at spring training? MLB players say politeness is a good start

GLENDALE – Major league players often find themselves in a mosh pit of autograph seekers during spring training and not everybody is coming out of the pack with a signature on their ball, cap or photo. However, players from the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, along with some experienced autograph seekers, say there are ways to improve the odds. Being polite is a good place to start.

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels writes signatures for a crowd of fans in baseball stands.

ASU’s play ‘Safe At Home’ gives audiences unique, eye-opening theater experience

TEMPE – The unique play “Safe At Home,” an ASU production, gives viewers a chance to see behind the scenes at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Tour guides navigate the audience across nine scenes during a 90-minute interactive experience.

A major league umpire and the vice president of Major League Basketball in a scene from "Safe at Home." (Photo courtesy of Tim Trumble)

Phoenix Suns acquire Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets

PHOENIX – Mat Ishbia has made a huge overnight splash in his first move as owner of the Suns, acquiring Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets

The Phoenix Suns become overnight favorites to win the Western Conference after pulling off a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for superstar Kevin Durant.(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

New Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia always dreamed of the NBA. Now, he’s finally made it.

PHOENIX – Following the Robert Sarver scandals, new team owner Mat Ishbia looks to correct the wrongs of Phoenix Suns past. At Wednesday’s introductory press conference he vowed to “win every kid’s heart and every person’s mindset.”

News Suns owner Mat Ishbia poses with a large group, including many family members, after speaking with the media, and said, “This is the dream city, the dream opportunity, the dream organization.” (Photo by David Bernauer/Cronkite News)

Former Phoenix Suns players stir memories of 1992-93 season at fundraiser

PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns Charities event hosted current and former Suns players Monday at Steak 44, where the conversation centered around the 1993 NBA Finals team and the hopes for a championship in the near future.

Former Phoenix Suns forward Richard Dumas, who averaged 15.8 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie during the 1992-93 season, attended Monday's Phoenix Suns Charities event at Steak 44. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)

‘It was pretty special’: Cameron Johnson returns to delight of fans, helps Suns snap skid

PHOENIX – Cam Johnson made his return Thursday night against the Brookly Nets, helping the Suns hold off a late charge to pick up a 117-112 victory at the Footprint Center.

The Suns’ Cameron Johnson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Footprint Center Thursday night. It was Johnson’s first game back after nursing a torn meniscus for more than two months. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)